NST January: Health, Wealth and a Life Well Lived

crazy_cat_lady

Hi everyone :hello:
I am struggling back onto the wagon after some months off and depletion of my emergency fund. I need to be frugal and get my savings going again so I'm back, determined to stay up to date on here, and save some money.
I'm just going to cheerlead for this month as I'm really late to the party but I am going to use you all for motivation and inspiration.

dolly84

f0xh0les wrote: »

Today is NDS....5

DS3 & 4 toddled off to school happily,

DS4 was assessed this morning and needs braces. He will be an urgent case and goes back in April (new accounting year). Bless the NHS and all who allow her to continue.

DS1 and 2 are enjoying their last day of freedom before incarceration tomorrow. (School goes back)

It was so easy to get just 2 kids out the door this morning. No doubt it will be a return to shouting tomorrow.

Need to get puff pastry out of freezer for pasties for lunchboxes tomorrow.

My DD had her braces fitted in November 2016 on the NHS as it was severe enough a case, they are on for 2 years then 2 years more with a retainer at night. We are so lucky to get it done as it is purely cosmetic really.

dolly84

Sold an item of mine on ebay this morning so that went to the post office with DD's item when I went out to do the school run. I got £15 after fees.

Toni'sfriend

NSD 5/18
Have spent most of the day trying to figure out why this laptop would not connect to the internet. I've fixed it for the moment but don't quite know how I did it.
So really haven't done much else. Dinners coming from freezer. Was looking for something to defrost for tomorrow {gammon joint) and I can't believe how much we've managed to use up. Lots of fish, three packs of YS liver and a few other things left. Just have to try to use up (or dispose of) all the bits that C has saved. It wouldn't have been so bad if he'd used them up gradually but he didn't and I don't know what half of it is. Oh well, it'll be a surprise.
Really, really cold here. Hope it warms up a bit. I've got to go the hairdressers tomorrow.

greent

greent wrote: »

Janus a time to look forwards - where do you want to be in 12 months from now? 12 months: debt free (exc BTL mtge - but target of 4K ops) A decent no of jobs completed from our 'to do' list for the house (some are small, some are big/ long term/ expensive) Fitter. Hopefully with 2 children at uni. Pensions sorted.
Today's actions towards this - transferred money into kitchen fund .

Activity. This is a BOGOF one. Take up a new hobby or resurrect an old one. ALSO, be active. Keep moving. Today: - more kitchen packing up done (lifting/ bending/ stretching) 10k steps done whilst doing so
Non-negotiables
-18 NSDs (if not, why not?) (not fussed if I don't achieve this as long as budgets aren't blown) 1/18.
-your budgets are set by the start of the month and are fixed.
Food - 98.05/£400 - OH went to the shops today and went off list....
Fuel - £63/65 -
Toiletries - 0/£10
Household - 55.63 /£20 - Busted as bought new toaster (after yesterday's fire!) and some new teatowels as they were on offer and I have a pile only fit for rag bag after kitchen works complete!
Clothes - 12.13/ £60
Social - 86.39 + McDs/ £100 (all bday related)
Gifts - 15/ £50 - gorgeous item found half price perfect for sister's bday:T
-£5 to foodbank / charity - DONE
-pay money to your debts/savings FIRST - day to day CCs paid off in full, usual monthly pymt to OH's car finance. Some money transferred to kitchen fund. My tax bill paid in full (£565). Min payments to both 0% CCs this month until kitchen expenditure known in full, instead of estimated
-meal plan - I don't do this. OH hates meal planning. However, I am targeting stuff which needs using up first, even if only for me.

Always plan your meals; always take a shopping list; always take your lunch to work and drink + snacks when out and about; avoid all coffee shops, vending machines, work canteens... -ok
Reduce, re-use, repair, re-gift, recycle, recover, refuse! And read. ok. Today I repaired my favourite cardigan which had developed some holes on one shoulder - luckily along the seams, so I've sewn them up

Stretch challenge - aim to get extra money of £50. £0.29/£50 Aim to declutter 50 items. 95/50:j
Have joined pay off all your debts by Xmas 2018, MFW 2018 (looking to OP £4k on BTL mtge), Declutter in 2018 (aiming for 2018 items!:eek:) Relisted 7 items on fleabay

something Joyful in Jan : n/a today

Very cold today, so have had the heating on - but it has meant I've got 2 loads of washing dry :j - will put another load on to wash later Am planning on ironing some of it before bed.
More kitchen stuff packed up. No more for CS, but have identified some Denby which I will list on fleabay (although possibly not until after works finished, as all packaging stash is being used on packing kitchen breakables up! :rotfl:)

apple_muncher

Chandelier. For me an nsd is a day where you spend, budgetted or not. Weekly or random activities (eg weekly paying kiddie ones or window cleaners who could turn up on a variety of days) have their monthly amount put aside (physically in an envelope if necessary) at the start of the month, thus keeping you an NSD on the day you have to use that money.

I do not count SO and DD as their removal date may vary according to weeknds/bank hols. Some count even these as spend days - they are truly hardcore!

Nicky Noo Na - fre zumba sound good!

CCL - you get to wear the lycra and wave the pompoms for January!

DawnW

Fmess wrote: »

SFD number 5 today.

Dzzyblnd my two new favourite energy saving tricks are to switch the oven off a few minutes before my dinner is done, it keeps on cooking but using less electricity and then when you’ve taken the food out of the oven, leave the door open so the heat can escape into your house and be an extra heat source for a few minutes.

An alternative is to put a large pan of water in the oven (switched off, with door closed) to heat up a bit in the residual heat - used to work well when I had an electric oven (the water is useful for washing up, cleaning etc), but less so with my current, gas one I still do it though!

mothernerd

Not feeling well (but otherwise cheerful). Stayed up late working my way across the bedroom, sorting and then freeing a small set of drawers which are going downstairs.

Woke about 9am (car park time), took my pills and must have dozed off again. Couldn't turn the top off the water bottle so took it through to DS3 and asked for a timecheck (if he's awake his laptop is on). Nearly fell through the floor when he said quarter to one.

Quickly washed and dressed, found library book that had to be returned, picked up charity bag and walked to chair exercise picking up a soft roll on th way (breakfast/ lunch - did not even have time to swallow cough medicine).

Was late but not much. Had to stop part way through the session as I went dizzy. Spent the rest of the session in an armchair (high back and supportive wings) doing what I could and drinking water.

Called a taxi for mum, picked up another couple of things on the way home - ys potato salad to go with beeetroot and cooked meat I already have. Irritating cough has become intrusive, throat is very sore and feels like it is closing up. Soft food only for the time being and must try to make it to the doctor's tomorrow morning.

Hopefully can do more tidying soon but feel weak as a kitten atm.

Although I have spent money today, my total needs to go down as I had misallocated oven gloves (which were owed from my Christmas money) and forgot something bought for mum (therefore it was included in my total).

Today I am grateful for considerate friends, for soft rolls (only had crispbread at home) and my bed (it is a little crowded atm but will improve). Maybe I should tackle the 'craft potential' stash as I don't want to be bothered with anything atm.

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for being able to stride along, for walking in the darkness (I like the anonymity and feeling of space it gives me), for good work colleagues, for an enjoyable day at work, for realising now that I had only cut out enough wing parts for 6 owls and not the 12 I needed and not on Sat, for time chatting with dd, for dd meeting me off the bus.

apple_muncher

Is your happiness dependant on your goal?

(No need to write your response to this one!)